A bright future for San Antonio Missions

Erin Eggerseeggers@express-news.net

Updated
12:49 pm CDT, Thursday, June 2, 2011

A cyclist rides by Mission Espada on Wednesday, June 23, 2010. The National Park Service is considering several plans to expand the San Antonio Missions National Historic Park to include more areas adjacent to the San Antonio River and areas of historic significance related to San Antonio's Spanish colonial heritage. BILLY CALZADA / gcalzada@express-news.net

A cyclist rides by Mission Espada on Wednesday, June 23, 2010. The National Park Service is considering several plans to expand the San Antonio Missions National Historic Park to include more areas adjacent to

A cyclist rides by Mission Espada on Wednesday, June 23, 2010. The National Park Service is considering several plans to expand the San Antonio Missions National Historic Park to include more areas adjacent to the San Antonio River and areas of historic significance related to San Antonio's Spanish colonial heritage. BILLY CALZADA / gcalzada@express-news.net

A cyclist rides by Mission Espada on Wednesday, June 23, 2010. The National Park Service is considering several plans to expand the San Antonio Missions National Historic Park to include more areas adjacent to

Dreams of biking from downtown and taking a scenic loop through the missions or picking squash grown in a community garden at the same spot where it was harvested hundreds of years ago by the first area settlers may not be far from reality for locals and tourists.

Recently, the National Parks Conservation Association revealed plans to increase cultural programs, diversify each park, and make the four southern missions more accessible to increase tourism and local draw. Hands-on activities such as colonial-era food preparation, community gardening, and mission portals — gateways using architectural, artistic and landscape design — from the River Walk hike and bike trails, are just a few of the ideas. Some of the plans are already under way, while others are more tentative, awaiting funding or new legislation.

The NPCA, Bexar County, the San Antonio River Authority and Los Compadres de San Antonio Missions are some of the more than 20 federal, state, county and city agencies involved in the revitalization plans.

“The Bexar Commissioners Court has felt that the San Antonio River going south and connecting the four missions is the most important public works project of our time,” said Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff. The missions have always been five disjointed, separate entities, he noted. “Now it's a major urban park.”

An economic impact study conducted by the Harbinger Consulting Group predicts that restoring the river and implementing seven new initiatives (see graphic) will raise the economic impact of the Missions Park from $98.8 million in 2009 to $214.5 million by 2016, the park's centennial. Area hotels, restaurants, and other tourism destinations are expected to benefit most directly.

The NPCA also hopes to showcase the ruins of Rancho de las Cabras, the “birthplace of vaqueros,” along the southern edge of Floresville.

“There are so many opportunities to do innovative community development around the park,” including bike rental, food carts, and leasing plots of irrigated land to farmers, said Michele Archie, the lead consultant from in the study. “That is what this time is about for South San Antonio.”